Enjoy the ride to Oscar

The Oscar ceremony should be fun, since no clear-cut favorites have emerged from the best Hollywood has to offer. Anything can happen once the show begins at 8 p.m. on ABC.

It's going to be a bumpy ride.

For example, "The Artist," which is earning most of its money from those 35 and older, could easily win best picture, as could its director, Michel Hazanavicius. A feel-good fantasy, "The Artist," rated PG-13, is threatened by the fact-based and heartfelt "The Help," which is my choice.

Also in line for a possible spot in the winner's circle is the family drama "The Descendants." The R-rated hit, directed by Alexander Payne, could walk away with some top prizes, particularly in the best picture and actor categories, where the film's never-been-better star, George Clooney, could triumph over Jean Dujardin from - again - "The Artist."

There could well be a major split, with "The Help," "The Artist" and "The Descendants" winning Oscars for best picture, director and actor, respectively. It's that kind of year.

Things are just as unpredictable in the best-actress category.

The category comes down to two terrific actresses, Meryl Streep for re-creating British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady," rated PG-13, and Viola Davis for her emotionally charged role as an African-American woman fighting prejudice in the early 1960s in the PG-13 "The Help." Certainly Streep, a two-time Oscar winner ("Kramer vs. Kramer" and "Sophie's Choice"), is strong, and she also has many friends who are academy members.

But my vote remains with Davis, who creates a stunning portrait of a woman who risks everything to stand up against oppression at a time when African-Americans were treated with gross unfairness and at times murdered.

Who's the dark-horse filmmaker? Martin Scorsese, who previously won best director for "The Departed."

His PG-rated film, "Hugo," which like "The Artist" salutes filmmaking (something academy voters love), is a magnificent visual work that shows the potential of 3-D. Scorsese, who was urged to direct "Hugo" by his 12-year-old daughter (who wanted her famous father to make a family-friendly film), has created an uplifting work about a boy living in a Paris train station and discovering a whole new world.

It may be hard to pick most winners this year, but that won't be the case for the supporting-actor and actress categories.

Christopher Plummer seems destined to carry home an Oscar for "Beginners," in which he stars as a 75-year-old man who comes out of the closet after the death of his wife. The R-rated picture is based on a true story.

In the supporting-actress category, gifted Octavia Spencer, who has won this award from numerous critics and performing groups such as the Screen Actors Guild, will carry home the gold for "The Help." Her performance as a minority woman who bravely faces oppressive forces and risks her life doing so is unforgettable.

With so many question marks about who will win, this should be a fun year to watch the Academy Awards. Adding to the festive spirit will be Billy Crystal, whose previous appearances as host were very successful. (I really wish Eddie Murphy had remained as host, but he relinquished the assignment when his producer, director Brett Ratner of "Tower Heist" with Murphy, made an anti-Semitic slur and left soon afterward.)

Here's a list of the 2012 Oscar nominees. I have boldfaced my choices, except in categories where I didn't see all of the nominees.